John w



(No Model.)

Jpw; KEENEY.

ORANGE GRADER.

No. 848,128. Patented Aug. 24, 1886.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. KEENEY, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. R. NEWBERRY, OF SAME PLACE.

ORANGE-GRADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,128, dated August 24, 1886.

Application filod January 11, 1886. Serial No. 188.199. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN V. KEENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Riverside, in the county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Orange-Grader; and I do de- (flare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apio pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the aceompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification. The special object of`the invention is to x5 grade oranges and other' fruits into different sizes, the same being also adapted to be used with some kinds of vegetables.

Figure l of the drawings is a top plan View of the grader; Fig. 2, a longitudinal Vertical zo section; Fig. 3, a Vertical cross-section, and

Fig. 4 a detail View in longitudinal Vertical section. n,

In the drawings, A represents an inclined plane or board, having .the longitudinal partitions a, and between these the holes a', of

which the transverse rows increase in size as they approach the bottom. Thus it Will be seen that as the fruit or vegetables enter the passages between partitions a the smallest will drop through Ithe first holes, the larger ones I continuing their course until a corresponding hole is reached. In this way any desired numberof grades may be obtained by making suitable holes or plugging `up such as are not wanted at any particular time.

cr' is the feed-board.

B is a hand crank-shaft, having two opposite cranks, b b', to which are'pivoted the rods O, which are themselves pivoted to th'e long rods 40 D. To the latter are pivoted angle-levers E, having the sprng-arms e and rigid arms e', the latter being provided with end-cushioned knockers e`z at an angle thercto. I/Vhen the Crank-shaft is turned, the knockers cz are car- 'whole number of levers with their knockers may be operated simultaneously; but I prefer to actuate half on the forward and half' on the back Ward reciprocation of the rods O. I make Aone arm of eachl lever E a spring and cusliion the ends of knockers ez, so as to prevent the fruit from being bruised. i

F are spouts connecting with holes a' and couveying the graded sizes of fruit to their respective boxes or other receptacles. They are slotted so as to allow the knockers e and arms e' to pass through them; but these slots are not sufficiently large to permit the escape of any fruit or vegetable.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protectby Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a grader, of an inclined plane having holes a', the end-cushioned knockers 82, and mechauism adapted to operate them, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, in a grader, with an incline having holes, and knockers ez, oflevers having one arm made elastic to prevent the striking force from bruising the fruit or Vegetable, as described.

3. A fruit and vegetable grader consisting, essentially, of an inclined plane having longitudinal partitions a and intermediate holes, i

w, knoekers to dislodge the fruit from said holes, and mechanism to operate said knockers, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I'faffix niysi gnatu re in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN w. KEENEY.

Witnesses:

T. H; B. OHAMBLIN, J Arms P. GRAvEs. 

